Saskatchewan Roughriders' offensive lineman Logan Ferland is going to Vancouver for the 111th Grey Cup. Unfortunately, he will be headed to British Columbia without his Green and White teammates.
The season ended for Ferland and the Riders on Saturday when the team lost 38-22 to Winnipeg in the West Final. However, Ferland will be in Vancouver for the CFL Awards on Thursday night as the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
Ferland, who was also named to the All-CFL team for the first time in his career, admitted being at the Grey Cup as an individual will be different.
“It's going to be tough, not seeing the boys there. Seeing what everyone's put into this organization, all the hard work we put in and where we thought we were going to be, that's going to be the most difficult part.”
Ferland believes the entire Riders team will soon be involved in the CFL championship game.
“Trust us. Believe in the process like we do. Believe in what we're building here and don't let up. We're building something special here. Hang on," Ferland told Rider Nation.
“You can see how far we've come this year, the adversity we've seen and how we've overcome a lot of that. That's really what we're building on for next year, it's only going to get better and better each year.”
The 27-year-old Ferland started every game and led an offensive line that allowed only 35 sacks despite starting 13 different players due to injury. Those injuries included a season-ending quad tear to right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick in Week 6. Ferland and Hardrick were expected to dominate the Riders right side, an opportunity Ferland is looking forward to in 2025.
“Absolutely. That's something me and Yosh [Hardrick] have in common, we're both grinders, we get to work and we thrive off that. We can really push each other. I'm excited to have an off-season with him, the rest of the guys and looking forward to getting better.”
Ferland started his football journey with his hometown Melfort Comets, who won Saturday's Saskatchewan nine-man provincial high school championship. He knows what the Riders' next step forward needs to be towards a title at the pro level.
“Maturity. We've been through adversity that helps with the growth of the group. Overall getting better as a unit, getting closer, spending time together in the off-season, spending time working out together, talking through things and keeping the bond that we grew this season," Ferland said. “It's clear and evident that we are building something special.”
The Toronto Argonauts take on the Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup on Sunday. Countdown to Kickoff begins with Dave Thomas, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. That's when TSN's pre-game show takes over. Kickoff goes at 5:30 p.m. with a post-game show to follow on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
